Agent for increasing the pH value of dental plaque and process for its preparation

Abstract

An agent for increasing the pH value of dental plaque, which contains at least one highly disperse, poorly soluble oxide, hydroxide or pure salt of one or more alkaline earth metal elements and a weak acid, having a specific surface area greater than 6 m 2 /g and a concentration of lattice defects which corresponds to a half width of the X-ray peaks for Cu-Kα radiation at glancing angles from 20° to 23° of more than 0.25 degrees, and a process for its preparation.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for increasing the pH value of dental plaque, comprising: orally contacting the dental plaque with at least one crystalline compound selected from calcium carbonate, calcium lactate and calcium tartrate for a time sufficient to increase the pH, said compound having a specific surface area greater than 6 m 2  /g and exhibiting reversible crystal lattice defects in a concentration corresponding to the broadening of the half-width of the X-ray peak for Cu-K radiation at glancing angles of from 20° to 23° of more than 0.25 degrees compared to the half-width of the same material free of such lattice defects.   
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said compound has a specific surface area greater than 10 m 2  /g. 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said compound has a concentration of lattice defects corresponding to said half-width of the X-ray peaks for Cu-K radiation at glancing angles of from 20° to 23° of more than 0.30 degrees. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said compound is administered in combination with a conventional binder, carrier, auxiliary, or extender. 
     
     
       5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said compound is used in combination with baked goods, confectionery, candy, boiled sweets, soft sweets or chocolate. 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said compound is calcite. 
     
     
       7. A method for increasing the pH value of dental plaque, comprising: orally contacting the dental plaque with at least one crystalline compound selected from calcium carbonate, calcium lactate and calcium tartrate for a time sufficient to increase the pH, said compound having a specific surface area greater than 6 m 2  /g, wherein said crystalline compound is obtained by dry-milling in an atmosphere containing air or nitrogen and the vapors of pure organic polar liquids having a boiling point below 130° C., or mixtures of said polar organic liquids, until a concentration of reversible lattice defects corresponding to the broadening of the half-width of the X-ray peaks for Cu-K radiation at glancing angles of from 20° to 23° of more than 0.25 degrees, compared to the half-width of the same compound free of such lattice defects, is reached.   
     
     
       8. The method according to claim 4, wherein said organic polar liquid is an alcohol. 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim 4, wherein said organic polar liquid is a ketone. 
     
     
       10. The method according to claim 4, wherein said organic polar liquid is ethanol.